Mod. Drama Spring 2008

Modern European Drama (Spring 2008)

Gustav Klimt, Tragedy, 1897 (Historical Museum of the City of Vienna, Vienna, Austria)

Modern Drama: Ibsen to O'Neill (Spring 2008)
MW 10:00-11:15 in UN 2010
http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/mdrama08.html
<http://english.montclair.edu>

Prof. Wendy Nielsen
Dickson Hall 352
Office Hours: M 2:15 - 3:45, W 11:15 - 12:45, & by appt.
Email: nielsenw@mail . . .

Texts available at University Bookstore (please use assigned translations):

Henrik Ibsen, Ibsen: Four Major Plays, vol. I (trans. R. Fjelde, Signet trans. R. Davis and B. Johnston, Smith and Kraus): A Doll’s House; Hedda Gabler
August Strindberg, Miss Julie and Other Plays (trans. M. Robinson, Oxford)
Elsa Bernstein (Ernst Rosmer [pseud]), Twilight: Drama in Five Acts, MLA (trans. Susanne Kord, ISBN 0873529286)
Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest (Dover)
Luigi Pirandello, Six Characters in Search of an Author (trans. E. Bentley, Signet)
Jean Genet, The Maids and Deathwatch (trans. B. Frechtman, Grove/Atlantic)
Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot (trans. S. Beckett, Grove/Atlantic)

Additional Texts Available online:

Theater Reviews (Blackboard)
Brecht, "Epic Theater" (Blackboard)
Artaud, Theater of Cruelty (Blackboard)

Course description: What is the tragedy of the modern family? How are family members expected to “perform”? And can the theater even begin to portray the comedy and tragedy (or tragicomedy) that is modern life? So-called Anti-Aristotelian dramas, or the plays written and produced between ca. 1870 and 1950, address these and many other questions. This course covers Naturalist Drama to Theater of the Absurd. We will read and consider the performance histories of Scandinavian, German, Anglo-Irish, French, and Italian theater: Ibsen (Doll House, Hedda Gabler), Strindberg (The Father), Ernst Rosmer (pseudonym for Elsa Bernstein, author of Twilight), Wilde (The Importance of Being Earnest), Pirandello (Six Characters in Search of an Author), Beckett (Waiting for Godot, and Genet (The Maids). Students will leave with a profound appreciation for the development of modern Europe and its playhouses.

Requirements:

The Spirit of a Democratic Classroom: Respect, Collegiality, and Integrity
Participation (incl. attendance, contribution to class discussion, discussion questions, peer review)--10%
In-class Midterm (Unit I)--25%
Journal Portfolio (cover letter, 4 originals + at least 1 revision that highlights your editing skills)--15%
Performance Paper (incl. participation in at least 2 of our 3 Process Writing workshops)-- 25%
In-class Final Exam (Comprehensive, w/emph. on Unit II)--25%

Policies:

Attendance policy: Students must attend a majority of class sessions in order to pass the class; long-term and repeated absences are unacceptable. Your first 3 absences are automatically excused and need no explanation please. Beyond that, you will need a note from your physician or the Dean of Students in order to excuse an absence for medical reasons or family death. Attendance is a part of your Participation Grade, which is also determined by your active and enthusiastic participation in class discussions; original and thought-provoking discussion questions; and informal writing assignments. Please make a friend in class to cover material missed while absent.

Papers should be no longer or shorter than the length assigned and should be submitted on time as stapled hard copies (no cover pages, loose pages, or folders please). With the exception of discussion questions, double space and use twelve-point type, in Times New Roman or CG Times (or 10 pt. in Veranda, etc.). 2 points are deducted from formal writing projects for every class day they are late. Click here to get an explanation of my shorthand on Style issues.
Late homework assignments (discussion questions, all ungraded writing assignments such as journals, etc.) cannot be accepted, but you may include these in an optional Participation Portfolio at the end of the semester and mandatory Journal Portfolio.

To teach students to avoid plagiarism, lectures will also include instruction in MLA documentation of all work. This course engages in questions of authorship, including web authorship (online link: web.html). Submitting work and words that are not your own will result in failing this course and disciplinary action by the Dean of Students. You can see my entire FAQ on plagiarism here.
Accommodations are always arranged for students with documented disabilities. Please call, email, or see the instructor personally, as well as Services for Students with Disabilities (Linda A. Smith in Morehead Hall 305, X5431).

Turn off and put away cell phones, blackberries, and related electronics in class please; laptops should be used to write lecture notes only

Tentative schedule subject to change; please check your Montclair email and <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/mdrama08.html> for updates

Date	Class Activities	Reading / Homework Due
1. W 1/23	Course and Student Introduction; Elements of Drama; Anti-Aristotelian Drama	Monday's reading assignment is in the cell below
Unit I: Drama before 1900 and the Naturalists
2. M 1/28	Review; A Doll's House; Student Questions	Read Ibsen, A Doll's House (1-66); DISC. 1: Write 3 ORIGINAL discussion questions (either ones you would pose as an instructor of the class, things you are confused about in the reading, or a mix between the two) and bring them to class (will be collected). The purpose of discussion questions is to open a dialogue between you and me; to make this a student-centered classroom; and to help students become better writers by becoming critical thinkers, or people who question what they read. Discussion questions are evaluated on a check (average, show you did the reading), check plus (insightful, original, possibly brilliant, probably shared during class), or check minus (you didn't do the reading or simply copied questions discussed in class) basis. Discussion questions are not mandatory but are taken into consideration for your Participation Grade. See also note in Policies above.
3. W 1/30	Review; Orig. Ending; Performances of A Doll's House; Feminist and Socio-economic Approaches to the Play	*Read Theater Reviews about A Doll's House* (Bb/Readings/Theater Reviews) and bring copies (or copious notes) to class. Journal 1*: Write 1 page (ca. 250 words) about any aspect of A Doll's House*. You might answer one of your own or another student's interpretive questions for the previous class, closely analyze a specific scene, or reflect on how this play could be produced, cast, and/or directed. Although each individual journal is not graded, I expect you to complete all of them, which will be graded when they are presented in a revised Journal Portfolio. Bring a copy to class and post your response to Blackboard/Discussion as well.
4. M 2/4	Hedda Gabler; the New Woman	Read Ibsen, Hedda Gabler (212-86); DISC. 2: Bring 3 original discussion questions to class.
5. W 2/6	Hedda Gabler: Performances	Read Theater Review; write Journal 2: Write a page on any aspect of Hedda Gabler. Bring a copy to class and post your response to Blackboard/Discussion as well.
6. M 2/11	Miss Julie & Naturalist Theater; Strindberg and Helium	Read Strindberg, Miss Julie (55-110); DISC. 3: Bring 3 original discussion questions to class.
7. W 2/13	Review; Miss Julie in performance	Reader Theater Review; write Journal 3: Write a page on any aspect of Miss Julie. Bring a copy to class and post your response to Blackboard/Discussion as well.
8. M 2/18	Twilight	Read Act I and II of Bernstein,Twilight (1-87); DISC. 4: Bring 3 original discussion questions to class.
9. W 2/20	Review; Twilight, Act III and IV	Read end of Twilight (88-145); write Journal 4: Write a page on any aspect of Twilight. Bring a copy to class and post your response to Blackboard/Discussion as well.
10. M 2/25	Importance of Being Earnest	Read Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest. No discussion questions due.
11. W 2/27	Earnest in Performance; Midterm Review	Read Theater Review. No journal due.
12. M 3/3	Midterm Exam (No make-up dates!)	Bring your books and one page of notes (written on back of exam questions)
Unit II: Drama after 1900 and the Modernists
13. W 3/5	Timeline; Modernism; Dada, Surrealism, etc.; Brecht (epic theater) and Artaud (theater of cruelty)	Read Brecht and Artaud (Blackboard / Online) and bring a copy or laptop to class; start revising your journals
14. M 3/10	Review; Midterms returned; Ghost Sonata	Read Strindberg, Ghost Sonata (248-86); no ques. due; Journal Portfolio due (4 originals and/or late ones, at least 1 journal that highlights your editing skills, and critical intro.); recommended reading: xxix-xxxvi
15. W 3/12	Reading day	Read Strindberg Theater Review. Please post your own comment and respond to someone else's re. Strindberg in performance on Blackboard/Discussion Board by 11am. No office hours today.
16. M 3/24	The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919); DVD #1145, Video #295	No homework; have a safe and happy spring break!
17. W 3/26	Pirandello, Six Characters in Search of an Author	DISC. 5: Bring 3 original discussion questions to class
18. M 3/31	Review; Pirandello in performance	Read Theater Reviews; 4/1 = last day to drop w/a W/D grade
19. W 4/2	Genet, The Maids	Read all of The Maids; DISC. 6: Bring 3 original discussion questions to class.
20. M 4/7	Review; Performances of TheMaids	Read Theater Reviews
21. W 4/9	Existentialism	Read Sartre, intro. to The Maids (7-31)
22. M 4/14	Class meets in comp. lab: DI 282; Performance Paper Process Writing #1: Brainstorming + Paper Proposal	Bring 2 or 3 authors you'd like to write about to class, and any notes you'll need; you will submit draft work at the end of class that will (in)form your Performance Paper. You must participate in at least 2 of these 3 scheduled Process Writing workshops for me to accept your final paper. Make-up date: Wed. office hours (4/16 11:15-12:45 in 352 Dickson)
23. W 4/16	Review; Waiting for Godot	Read Act I
24. M 4/21	Waiting for Godot	Read Act II
25. W 4/23	Class meets in comp. lab: DI 277; Performance Paper Process Writing #2: Drafting	Bring an outline of your proposed Performance Paper to class; at the end of class you will have draft work that shows your original composition. Make-up date: office hours W 4/23 11:15-12:45 in 352 Dickson
26. M 4/28	Class meets in comp. lab: DI 282; Performance Paper Process Writing #3: Editing	Bring 2 hard copies of your draft to class, and post to Blackboard/Discussion. There are no make-up dates. However, before Wed. 4/30 at 10am, you may respond to another student's paper on Blackboard/Discussion and solicit feedback from another student in that forum (or do so in person, on paper: provide these drafts with final submission).
27. W 4/30	Informal presentation of your Performance Paper	Performance Paper due: staple or clip (w/a binder clip) all draft work to your final draft, which should be on top. No folders please. Come to class with a 2-3 minute summary of your Performance Paper. Post final drafts to Blackboard/Discussion as well.
28. M 5/5	Final Exam Review	Optional: Participation Portfolio (staple old and/or new/late discussion questions)
M 5/12	10:15 to 12:15pm: In-class Final Exam	Bring your books and one page of notes (written on back of exam questions)